| 22 September 2020— Using his free time to help others while also delivering a significant athletic output was a great match for the late Justin Wilson, who participated in the Dempsey Challenge prior to his passing in 2015.
For one weekend every September, thousands of people break out their inner athletes to raise funds to improve the lives of people living with cancer. 100% of funds raised by Dempsey Challenge participants provide programs and services at no cost to people impacted by cancer.
With the COVID-19 pandemic altering so many events this year, it is no surprise that the traditional Dempsey Challenge has also adapted a different format for 2020. The event, which was initiated by actor and racer Patrick Dempsey in 2009, will this year be staged as a virtual event.
Organizers have invited participants to #ReimaginetheChallenge with virtual events to get people moving and to raise funds. The activity will be hosted on two world-best activity platforms, Strava and Zwift.
Julia Wilson – the late Justin Wilson’s wife – who first took up the challenge in 2015 and has continued every year, will take to two wheels again in 2020 as she set out for 50 miles of riding in Colorado along with J.R. Hildebrand and Barry Waddell, both of whom worked and trained with Justin Wilson in IndyCar competition, as well as Justin’s brother Stefan and Wilson’s former RuSport Champ Car team president Jeremy Dale.
Julia was inspired by the Dempsey Challenge from the first time that Justin participated, and has made the #riding4JWIL a fall tradition that she will continue with the new approach that 2020 has required.
Those that wish to support the Dempsey Challenge can make a pledge here, using #riding4JWIL for the Team:
https://support.dempseycenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.search&searchToken=5F0DF881215E92B903DB378CC3137C15FFAFCBCB&filter=team&eventID=500&searchTerm=%23riding4JWIL |
